An update has been provided on the recent three-day talent tryout that WWE held ahead of the SummerSlam premium live event. According to a new report from PWInsider, the participants from the tryout are now in the process of learning if they will be offered a WWE contract. The report also revealed that those who are signed will be heading to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, for a January 2026 start date.
The SummerSlam week tryout was a significant event for the company’s talent recruitment, featuring a group of international independent wrestlers and athletes from other sports. The company has made a point to publicize these tryouts, even naming an official MVP for the first time. London-based independent wrestler Rayne Leverkusen was identified as the MVP of this session.
The tryouts also featured a surprise appearance from a WWE legend. As part of his ongoing retirement tour, John Cena took the time to visit the tryouts and share his advice with the hopefuls who were looking to earn a WWE contract. Chelsea Green also recently revealed some of the keys to impressing the coaches during the WWE tryout process.
The list of hopefuls who took part in the SummerSlam tryouts included a number of well-known names from the independent circuit and other sports. Some of the participants included LJ Cleary, Ben Bishop, Meghan Walker, Mike Cunningham, Goldenboy Santos, Zoe Sager, Jha’Quan McNair, CBL, Rayne Leverkusen, Anita Vaughan, Ariana Milan, Eli Knight, Will Kroos, Ellen B Akesson, Eduardo Godinho, Vincent King, Zoe Hines, CJ Felder, and Aeden Begue.
The WWE ID (Independent Development) program, which was launched last year, has also become a key part of the company’s talent pipeline. The program allows WWE to support select independent wrestlers and training schools, creating another pathway to the NXT brand. The full report on the tryouts and the new signees can be found on PWInsider.com.
